Draft rigging



-N. B. AKITT DRAFT RIGGING May 7, 1935.

Filed Julg,r 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l N. B. AKITT.,

DRAFT RIGGING May 7, 1935.

Filed July 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1935 :PATENT DRAFT RIGGING Norman VB. Akitt, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company, New York, N. corporation of Maryland Application July V13, 1929, Serial No. 378,147

Y 4 Claims,l

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway rolling stock and more particularly to an improved form of articulated coupler stem and its connection with an associated yoke.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, isto provide lan articulated coupler 'stem of such a size thatit may be interchangeably used with a standard horizontal yoke, or a vertical `yoke interchangeable with a standard Vertical yoke,` such a vertical yoke having a hooded front end with the side walls of the hooded portion `for that purposeY being more widehf spaced, the associated 'parts on the. car

being designed tocorrespond.

Another object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupleradapted for connection to the hooded front end of an associated ver` tical yoke by a horizontal key,"the butt'of said coupler being of such a size that it may be interchangeably used with a horizontal yoke, the hooded front end of the vertical yoke having its sidewalls more widely spaced to accommodate the butt of increased width, said yoke and coupler being adapted for use between center or draft sills of standard spacing with front draftlugs reduced in width to correspond with the in' creased distance between the side walls of the hooded portion of the yoke.

A further object of my invention is to provide a swivel butt coupler' connected to the hooded front end of an associated yoke by a horizontal key, the side walls of said hooded end vbeiner strengthened by inwardly extending reinforce- I, ments around the key slots, and the sides of the coupler shank having corresponding channels to receive said reinforcements upon angling of the coupler. f

A still further object of my invention is to provide .a combined striking casting and front draftlug member particularly adapted for use with an interchangeable swivel butt `coupler and vertical yoke connected by a horizontal draft key received in corresponding slots'in said cast- Other objects and advantages ofthe .invention relating to the `particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent asvthe description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my. vinvention, the scopewhereof Vis definedl by the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and partial central longitudinal section of a coupler and associated vertical yoke shown assembled with the (Cl. 213-50) 1 center sills land other parts of the'vassociated underframe.

Figure 2 is a partial plan and partial hori- OFFICE zontal sectional-view of the coupler, yoke and parts of theunderfraine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a. partial iront endelevationaland partial transverse sectional View on theline 214-2EL of Figure l,looking in the 'direction of the arrows, with the coupler removed. Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the co`m bined striking casting, sill tie, and draft flug member shown in Figures 1 and 2 attachedr to the ends of the center sills, the stem ofthe associated coupler being diagrammatically'Yr illustrated in dotand dash lines.

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on the line 4'-4 of Figure 3 looking inthe direction v'of the arrows,

Figure 5'is 4a fragmentary plan'of the-c bined casting shownin Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is" a view corresponding 'toFigure `3 but showing a.modication.` 'Y Figurev 7 fisr'a vertical longitudinal section'al view on the line 'l--l of Figure 6 lookingin the direction of the arrows: f Yligure 8 is'a fragmentary plan 'view yoi? the forni of "casting shown in Figures 6 and 7'.

Referring to the'drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, 'and first considering the embodiment yof my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusiva'th'ere is shown the stemor shank I of a swivel'butt coupler or Vone having a two-part or articulated stem. Said stem is connectedvto the swivel block orarticulated portion 2 thereof by means o'fapivot pin 3 extending through the shank loops or're'ar'- wardlyex'tending' flanges or webs! andy 5 on the couplerl and intercalated flanges or webs 6, I and 8 on the'swivel block. As is usual in swivel butt couplers of the Atype illustrated,` the shank loops 4 and 5 have their rear edges formed cylindrical and coaxial with the apertures 9 therein yfor ref ceiving the associated pivot pin 3, which edges engage correspondingly curved pocket portionsill and II on the swivel block 2 for transmitting buiing forcesthereto while permitting the desired angling therebetween. The corresponding edges of the flanges B, 'I and 8 are desir-ably curved co-v axial with the corresponding'pin receiving aperfy tures and fit into a correspondingly curved pocket I2 and closely -approach correspondingly curvedr shoulders or flanges I3 and I4 on the shank of the coupler, a slight clearance,` however, being desirably provided as illustrated so `that the bearing from the transmlssionofbuffing forces is betweenr thecurved edges of the shank loops and the curved walls of the pockets receiving said loops.

Associated with the coupler I is a yoke I5, which in the present embodiment, is illustrated as being of the vertical type with a hooded front end so that there areprovided side walls I6 and I1, a top Wall I8 and a bottom wall I9. In the present embodiment, the Walls I8 and I9 are merely extensions of the Ytopand bottom arms of the yoke. The butt of the coupler I or swivel block portion 2 thereof preferably fits snugly between the walls I6 and I1 of the yoke and the width of said swivel block is preferably such that it is approximately that normally` used with a standard horizontal yoke so that the swivel butt coupler shown may be used interchangeably with a horizontal yoke without undesirable side clearance. Inasmuch as this is greater than the normal distance between the inner surfaces of the side walls of standard vertical yokes, the yoke I5 illustrated has its sidewalls more widelyl spaced than with the standard yoke, the dimensions of Vsaid yoke, however, being such that it is interchangeable with said standard yoke. I s

It would bepossible to Yretain the pivot pin 3 fromloss or undesired removal by the associated draft key 20 which serves for connecting the coupler and-yoke, aswell as supporting the parts in proper alinement bypassing through registeringl slots in the coupler, yoke and associated cheek plates or draft'lugs 2| and/or sills 22 when said key is in place. This will be clearA from considering that said `key passes through a correspondingly notched portion 23 in the pin, and thereby would holdsthepinV in place as long as the pin was unbroken. ItA will also be clear that when the coupler is associatedwith the yoke,

vthe walls or arms I8 and |9 of the yoke might overlie and underlie the ends of the pin and thereby hold it inuplacel vIn order, however, to

hold the pin in-place even when the coupler stem I is removed from the associated railwayrvehicle or car,the lower flange or weby 8 lof the swivel block 2 is desirablynprovided with a forwardly extending ledge'or flange portion 24underlying the lower end ,of the pin 3.andpreferably engaging a notched portion"25-thlereofrY For preventing removal ofthe pin in the vother direction, a pair. of lugs 26 and 21 are desirably provided respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the pin `aperture through theweb or flange 1 ofz-theswivel block 2 and extending from the upper surface thereof. vSaidlugs are provided with registering longitudinal apertures 28 and A2,9 for receiving a cotter or other retaining means 30. In order to maintain the vertical dimension of the main .part of the yoke I5` standardthe forward portions only of the arms I8 andlgxthereof areV offset away from each other toaccon'imodate` the retaining means 24, 26, 21 and 30. Inasmuch as the Aretaining meansr on top and bottom ofthe swivel block 2 desirably extend a corresponding distance from the Vcorresponding flanges or webs of said swivel block, theamount of offset of the arms |8 and |9 vmay be equal', thereby providing a symmetrical yoke which may be used with either arm uppermost. s v s The side loops 'or walls I6 and-I1 of the yoke I5 areA desirably.strengthened` around the slots 3| and 32 by `inwardly extending reinforcements 33 and 34, formed-by havingzthe inner faces of vfor- Ward portions of the side walls-converge inwardly to-approxirnately the front ends of said slots, for increasingthe rstrength of connectionbetween said coupler and yoke. It will be clearthat these reinforcements limit the permissible angling of a coupler shank of usual construction, and therefore the coupler shank of my invention is formed with channels 35 and 36 of a size corresponding with the reinforcements 33 and 34, but offset forwardly from the normal position of the front ends of the yoke slots an amount corresponding approximately with the normal rearward movement of the coupler on buif, whereby they are disposed mainly in the widened portion of the stem, which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, has side wallsconverging rearwardly to the key slot therein, thereby permitting the necessary amount of anglingof the coupler stem, particularly when the cushioning mechanism, indicated diagrammatically at 31, is under compression by the stem of the coupler and associated key moving inward between the arms of the yoke further than is illustrated in the drawings, such inward or rearward movement being permitted by the extension ofthe slots 32and 68 rearwardly of the normal position of said'key. l I For holding the cushioning mechanism against rearward movement, a combined backstop -and rear draft lug 38 is provided connected between the sills 22, said casting being formed withfa pocket39 for receiving the rear end or looped portion 40 of the yoke. For supporting the yoke, a carrier 4| isdesirably provided extending between the sills 22 and connected to the lower flanges thereof in any desired manner as by means of bolts42. InA order to restrain the cushioning mechanism 31 against forward movement when subjected to draft forcesfront draft lugs 2| are providedand desirably-riveted to the webs of the I sills 22. as illustrated particularly in Figure 2. Said draft lugs are decreased in width to correspondwith the increased width of the yoke I5 while still being maintained of adequate width to provide the necessary forward abutments for the cushioning mechanism 31 or front follower thereof.,Said,draft'lugs are desirably formed integral with a combined casting 43 comprising a striking portion 44 adapted to engage the horn 45 of the associated coupler, depending side portions 46 preferably strengthened along their front edges by transversely extending flanges or webs 41 and rearwardly extended along the sidesV of the sillwebs 22 where they are connected to said webs as by means of rivets 48,A slotted for receiving the i associated key 20, and extended inwardly at ktheir rear endsto provide the front draft lugs 2 which are desirably reinforced by forwardly extending tapering ribs above and below the slot 68 which receives the key 2D. i portions 2| are 'desirably bent forwardlyand downwardly alongthe lower edge of the casting, as indicated at 2|', thereby strengthening the lugs and the casting, said reinforcement tapering to gradually merge into the sides of the casting like the reinforcing portions above and below the key slots. YThe striking casting portion 4'4 is desirably formed with afrearwardly extending web 49, the rearmost portion of which i's desirably downwardly offset, as indicated at 50, to extend below and be connected with the center sill cover plate 5|, the sides of said offset portion being desirably connected tothe rear flange portions cf the lugs 2| by'curved and-sloping beading or flanges 50 as shown most clearly in `Figures 4 and 5.A Said striking portion 44 is also preferablsr reinforced by a plurality of longitudinally disposed webs 52 extending between the striking portion of the casting, the top web 4S and thc lower reinforcing flange` or web 53. Y Y

The lower ends of the lug Connecting the lower ends of the side portions '46 of the casting 43 is a couplercarrier or sill tie with the extreme vertical dimensionl of the butt of the coupler stem assembled. The `side portions of said sill tie are preferably disposed at a slightly` higher elevationr to form abutments 58 for supporting the associated coupler carrier block 59, said abutments being desirably notched, as indicated at Si), to receive depending lug portions l on the carrier block 59 for holding said block in interlocked relation with respect to the casting 43. In order to prevent undesired removal vor loss of Vsaid block V59, the same is desirably retained-in position by a bolt E2 extending'entirely through said block and the side portions of the casting 43 and held in place ,by a head 63 at, one end and a castle or other lockingfnut 6.4 at the other end.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, a combined casting 3e is illustrated which in` combination with separable lugs 2la is interchangeable with the combined casting 430i the rst embodiment` As in the rst embodiment, the casting 43a comprises a striking portion 44a, the rearwardly extending upper web or shelf portion 49a `downwardly offset, as indicated at 59a,V for connection with the'sill cover plate. The shelf or web. 49e and 5i)a together with the lower flange 53e? of the striking portion are reinforced byl a plurality of vertical webs 52a, the rear -ends1of which gradually taper to decrease in depth and finally merge with the web 56a adjacent the rear edge thereof. Y

As in the previous embodiment, the lside portions a extend downwardly from the striking portion 45a and are integrally connected by a sill tie portion 5de preferably of a construction corresponding with the sill tie portion 54 of the first embodiment and supporting a correspondingA couplercarrier block 592 held in place in anyl desired manner as by means of a corresponding bolt 62a. The sides 46fEL of the casting are provided with rearwardly extending ears 65 adapted for connection to the outer sides of the associated sills 22ZL and rearwardly extending bracket portions 66 with outstanding horizontal webs or flanges 51 adapted to underlie and be connected with the lower flanges of said sills 22e.

The separable draft lugs 2|a are desirably formed with inwardly extending flange portions along their rear edges and, as in the previous embodiment, said flange portions are reinforced by forwardly extending tapering flanges on the upper and lower edges of said castings and bordering the siot 58a which is adapted for receiving the connecting key. The slotted draft lug castings 211 are continued forwardly to overlap the ears t5 on the combined striking casting 43 and continued beneath the striking casting portion and lower ange 53a thereof, so that they may be connected by common rivets 'ita extending through the side portions 46a, ears 65,'the draft lugs Zia, and the center sill webs included therebetween, thereby effecting a secure connection between the parts.Y As in theprevious embodiment, the width of the flanges onl the draft lugs 21e, forming abutments for thezcushioning-mechanism, Yare reduced below standard dimensions 4so as to accommodate the yoke l5, which, as :previously explained, is of slightly increased width to accommodate the coupler stem I and swivel block 2 of a width corresponding approximately with that used witha horizontal yoke and other Farlow attachments, whereby an interchangeable swivel butt coupler may be employed; VVExcept `as specifically described in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond approximately with that of the rst embodiment. Y Referringnow to FigureZ, it will be seenv that the slots`3i and 32 in theside walls I6 and I1 of' the yoke hood terminate, when in normal positio-n, forwardly of the slots in the draft lugs 2|-, so that when the coupler is subjected tol bu'fling forces it first moves rearwardly until the front' end of the slot therein engages the front edge of the key 28, whereupon the key moves rearwardly until the rear edgethereof engages the rear end o-f the slotted portions in the: side walls it and l l of the yokehood, movingjthe yoke rearwardly so that the closed or rear end portion 4B thereof moves toward thebackstop casting,

and upon a full closure of -the gearV only normal clearance may remain therebetween. same time,'the rear edge portions v of .theKV 'side walls I6 and Il of the yoke hood move past the rear or stop surfaces of the draft lugs :21. will, therefore, be seen that, on buff, provisioin is made not only forjrelative movements of the coupler with respectto the yoke, but alsov for relative movement of theyoke with respect to the draftsills, front draft lugs and backstop. 1

vFrom the foregoing description of my invenf tion taken in connection with `the accompanying drawings, ity will be seen that I have devised an articulated coupler stern and vertical yoke combination which is animprovement on that described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 329,503 filed December 3l, 1928. In accordance with my present invention, I maintain the swivel bl'ck 2 at very 4nearits original Width for use withV a vertical as compared with the standard width for use with a horizontal yoke. In this way I am enabled to maintain the radius of the shank loops or flanges A 1 and 5 at the standard dimension foruse with a horizontal yoke and Farlow attachments. I .am also enabled to maintain the butt loops or flanges 6, l and 8 while limiting the reduction in width' of the butt 2 to a figure which may be used with a standard horizontal yoke without undue side clearance. The width of the butt and the thickness of the side walls IS and i1 of the yoke are so determined that there is still a suicient distance between the yoke and webs of the sills 22 for front draft lugs 2| of serviceable height and area. The hood of the yoke is so designed that standard coupler pin retaining means Vare preserved without change, except that the top lugs 2S and 21 receiving the Cotter 3i) are disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the pin aperture instead of laterally on either side, thereby making it possible to maintain the upper convolution in the arm I8 Yof minimum width and the lsame as the downward convolution in the lower arm i9, leaving shoulders on either side of said convolutions, approximately alined with the corresponding arms of the yoke, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2e, whereby they are adaptedY to serve as continuations of the inner surfaces of At; vthe v `cation,'I refer to parts of standard, normal or conventional construction, I mean such parts constructed in accordance with usual rail- Way practice as standardized by the recommended practice of the American Railway Association in effect on the date of filing of this application.

Although I have described'preferred forms of 'my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish tobe limited to the details, as modications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a vertical yoke formed with side walls connecting the side edges ofthe forward portions of the yoke arms and forming a hooded front, a coupler with a stem received between the side walls of said yoke and the forward portions of said arms and longitudinally movable with respect thereto, said stem having a swivel block pin-connected thereto and formed with means on its top and bottom surfaces for holding said connecting means in place, ,said yholding means extending similar distances above and below said swivel block, the forward portions of the yoke arms above and below said holding means being similarly bulged locally along the longitudinal center line forming grooves open at the forward ends to clear said retaining means, whereby said. yoke may be used with either arm up, and coupier guiding shoulders at opposite sides of said grooves.

2. A yoke having a hooded front formed by two pairs of oppositely disposed walls, one pair forming top and bottom walls of said hooded front and being bulged locally along the longitudinal center line forming grooves open at the forward ends of said walls, coupler guiding shoulders at opposite sides of said grooves, and the other pair of walls forming sides of said hooded front having elongated slots extending rearwardly from the normal position of the rear edge of an associated draft key, to enable said key tornove rearwardly with respect thereto under the action of buffng forces.

3. A yoke having a hooded front formed by two pairs of oppositely disposed walls, one pair forming top and bottom walls of said hooded front and being bulged locally along the longitudinal center line forming grooves open at the forward ends of said walls, and coupler guiding shoulders at opposite sides of said grooves.l

4. In railwayY draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a Vertical yoke comprising upper and lower arms and side walls connecting the forward portions of said arms, a coupler with a stem fitting between said side walls and formed with longitudinal channels on opposite sides, an auxiliary portion, a pin pivotally connecting said stem and auxiliary portion, said stem, auxiliary portion and yoke side Walls being slotted, slotted draft lugs connected to the inner faces of said sills and provided with stop shoulders, and a horizontal key extending through the slots in said coupler stem, auxiliaryV member, side walls and draft lugs, the slots in the draftlugs being elongated rearwardly of the normalposition of said key to a greater extent than those in said yoke side walls, the inner faces of said yoke side walls being spaced to clear said auxiliary portion and the forward portions converging rearwardly to provide reinforcements of maximum strength adjacent the front ends of said slots, said coupler stem channels being correspondingly tapered in depth to provide for nesting of the reinforcements therein, the point of maximum depth of said channels being offset forwardly from the normal position of the front ends of the yoke slots anjamount corresponding approximately with the normal rearward movement of the coupier with respect to the yoke on buff, so that upon rearward movementof the coupler with respect to the yoke, as provided by the elongation of the slots, and angling of the coupler Vstem with respect to the auxiliary member, the yoke reinforcement at one side or the other, depending on the direction of angling, is received in the corresponding channel in thecoupler stem, thereby allowing for a greater amount of relative angling.

NORMAN B. AKITT. 

